Elbridge Gale Elementary became involved with LLS after student Sebastian Sarmiento was diagnosed with leukemia in 2007.  Sadly, Sebastian passed away in 2009.  Again this year, Elbridge Gale Elementary has yet another student diagnosed with leukemia.  Andrew Dawson is a first grader who is now in remission.   Andrew was able to share his experience with the entire school at a kickoff assembly. 

Elbridge Gale Elementary students rallied to reach their goal of $25,000 to be linked with a LLS funded research portfolio. Thanks to a highly successful Pi Day, where 500 students threw pies at 70 teachers and administrators, students and staff hosted chess tournaments, bakes sales, car washes, give back events, a parent date night, and dress down days they surpassed it.  Notable students Jaidyn Brody, Drake Brody, and McKenna Wickers have led the fundraising amongst their peers.  Jaidyn has managed to raise over $8,000 this school year and has a hole in one tournament and swim-a-thon planned over the next month.  Her brother Drake, a kindergartener has collected over $1,000 by asking for donations every week at the Wellington Food Truck Invasion.  McKenna’s annual “Lemons for Leukemia” event raised more than $800.

Once the school met their $25,000 goal, they set their sights on becoming the top school in the southeast.  They not only earned the title of top school in Florida and the southeast, Elbridge Gale Elementary School ranked 8th place nationally.